Thursday, November 01, 2007

For Your Consideration

It's November 1, my dears, and that means it's time to reveal this year's Panopticon Shop holiday design.

I've put her on an ornament and cards, as usual; and also on a journal, baby shirt, and a few other goodies to see how that flies.

No pun intended.

She will be available through February 1, 2008.

I'm tickled to gay little bits at the response to the last two posts on vintage and antique needlework. If Sue gives permission, I'll approach PieceWork about an article on the embroidered World War I postcards. PieceWork is one of my few must-read magazines and I'd love to contribute something to it–thank you for the encouragement.

Today is all about final preparations for the trip to California. I would be lying to you if I said I weren't nervous. Californians: I am a small, jumpy man unfamiliar with your exotic ways and customs. Please be gentle.

Dolores is not helping much, as she has apparently been bugging Cindi, my guild contact in Sacramento, with a stream of questions about local nightlife and the whereabouts of "special interest" bars in the vicinity of our hotel. I wish to reassure members of the Guild that the viewpoints of Ms. Van Hoofen are her own, and do not necessarily reflect those of us at The Panopticon who have never visited a "latex and wool" fetish night and hope we never will.

Namaste, Franklin - I think both the postcards and the ways crafts brought beauty to the miner families lives would be great stories.Here's hoping your relative gives you permission to use the materials. I, for one, would greatly appreciate seeing them in "Piecework". Enjoy your trip to California. Wishing I could be there. - Joe, in Wyoming

Might you do a not-so-sweet version of this lovely angel and her gorgeous star knitting, with perhaps her counterpart? That is to say, a devil-style girl, sasssy outfit, one ball of red on one cloud, a ball of white on the other--you know, the quintessential "Good Girl/Bad Girl", but Franklin style??

Each year I give my four godchildren an ornament; thanks for making this year's choice easy. They'll always remember their knitting auntie when they see this one (not that I claim to be an angel...). Fabu!

Franklin - we are normally very sweet and very gentle out here in California. The sunshine lulls us into a state of constant bliss. I wish I could be up in Sacramento to see you. Any chance of coming down to LA?

Any chance you might be in the SF area? I can hook you up with some locals for another 1000 knitters shoot. You missed the death of Halloween in the Castro, so there is nothing to fear.http://sfist.com/2007/11/01/sfist_photo_pho_1.php#more

Having lived in Walnut Creek CA and used to drive through Sacramento on my way to Grass Valley/Nevada City, Sac is an "interesting" place. Most capitol cities are. Hope you meet some ladies from the Sierra Nevada Hills. Lovely, lovely place. I know you will have a great time. Safe travels to you. Cskinner298@yahoo.com

Such a great holiday picture! I love it. I wish you well in California. Avoid the fires. Tell Dolores she should also avoid the fires...wouldn't want her to singe her wool. I'd love to see an article in a magazine about the embroidered postcards.

Please don't be nervous. We Californians are, for the most part, a very gentle people. I think it has something to do with being able to photosynthesize and drive with the windows down for ten months out of the year.

Frankly, I think PieceWork might be interested in an article about the Smock museum, too--there is so much textile content, so beautifully relevant to the ethnic and socioeconomic histories of the mine workers, that I would hope they'd want to publish it. I'm a PieceWork subscriber (only that and SpinOff), and I'd love to read it.

Franklin, I am a regular lurker on your blog out here in California. No need to fear us, with, of course, the exception of the traffic. May I remind you, most of us are from somewhere else. I was born and raised in Peoria, lived in Evanston during college, then Chicago, escaping to California after the great blizzard of '67 and the Democratic convention of '68, and let me tell you, it was a lot scarier in California in the late 60s than now. Now, a majority of people look like tired accountants. Scary in its own way.

Also, I have heard more than one former Peorian say that Sacramento looks just like home, just not so boring. - Maureen

Unfortuinatly I don't have reliable transportation or I'd take the 2 hour drive down to see you! Next time come up to Sonora ;) We have a nice little yarn store, though it might be a bit too dim for a propper photo shoot... Though if you're lucky someone might take you up to Columbia to go Gold Panning! Hard to resist huh? (if that isn't enough there is a cashmere farm rumored to be not far away...)

Hi Franklin - just needed to delurk to say thanks for the great holiday design:o). The best part is that this was designed by a knitter - otherwise that angel would have been knitting fair isle with one ball of yarn. Know what I mean? I've seen that a lot, even in photos and it drives me up the wall. Pet peeve, borderline obsession, who knows?

Franklin, thanks for coming to CA to photograph us! It was a pleasure meeting you. After you watch your dvd, please consider making a trip to the coast. We'd love to have you anytime and there are plenty of knitters there, too! :-)

Franklin - yes PLEASE write for *Piecework*, and yes please, BOTH of those topics (postcards and museums). There's been an article on embroidered postcards (too lazy to go look it up) but another would be all to the good from MY viewpoint. I'm a long-time subscriber. The holiday design is adorable (she COULD be knitting for Chanukah too you know) and as for Dolores...well, we love her anyway.

Franklin you are too funny! And I'm so happy I got to read you this morning. [At one point I decided not to read your recent posts until I'd read through all your archives, but you are quite prolific and I couldn't wait that long. And now I'm very happy I caved.] I'm sure you will have a lovely time in California. I survived 4 years in SF, which, of course, is nothing like Sac. nonetheless I am positive it will be great!

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